The three new tests Futuremark can be used with the full range of hardware from smartphones and tablets, to notebooks and home PCs, to the latest high-end, multi-GPU gaming desktops. Futuremark expects to launch the new 3DMark before the end of the year.

Futuremark says 3DMark scores will be directly comparable across platforms providing valuable insight into the performance differences between competing devices and operating systems.

Futuremark says 3DMark can be used to measure the performance of hardware from OpenGL ES 2.0 mobile devices to high-performance DirectX 11 gaming PCs and everything in between.

The Ice Storm test is designed for mobile devices and entry-level hardware. It includes two graphics tests focusing on GPU performance and a physics test designed to measure CPU performance. On Windows, Ice Storm uses a DirectX 11 engine limited to Direct3D feature level 9. On Android and iOS, Ice Storm uses OpenGL ES 2.0. The test content, settings and rendering resolution are the same on all platforms and scores can be compared across Windows, Windows RT, Android and iOS.

Cloud Gate is a new test that is designed for Windows notebooks and typical home PCs. Cloud Gate includes two graphics tests and a physics test. It uses a DirectX 11 engine limited to Direct3D feature level 10_0 making it suitable for testing DirectX 10 compatible hardware. Cloud Gate will initially only be available in the Windows version of 3DMark.

The Fire Strike test is designed for high-performance gaming PCs. It includes two graphics tests, a physics test and a combined test that stresses both the CPU and GPU at the same time. Fire Strike uses a DirectX 11 engine and is designed for testing DirectX 11 compatible hardware. The test will initially only be available in the Windows version of 3DMark.